Luvachicken Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I have 10 orchids of varying sizes and one I've had for 4 years - one of the only plant species I have managed to keep alive. I don't normally do houseplants. For my birthday 2 weeks ago Hubby bought me another one - but a different variety - a cattleya one. It had one flower already open and a bud. The bud opened the next day. On friday the first flower that had opened was starting to curl up, so I thought maybe it was too warm in my kitchen for it - even though thats where the other orchids live, and moved it into my lounge. The second flower has done the same. Do cattleya orchid flowers not last as long or was it just the shock of taking it from the garden centre to my house ? Shall I put it back in the kitchen where I know the others do well ? Should I phone the garden centre and complain ? When will it flower again ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 2, 2013 Share Posted March 2, 2013 I undeerstand that these can flower twice a year in ideal circumstances. I always thought the flowers were shorter lived as they arent so waxy but didnt think they were that short lived I am always dubious of buying any delicate plant in flower from a garden centre as of course they want these on show to sell easily but the shock of moving them and if the new environment is not the same the flowers are easily lost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 2, 2013 Author Share Posted March 2, 2013 Thanks Redwing I'm hoping when it flowers next time they might last longer. It was a very pretty flower a litlle like a white daffodil with a purple trumpet and unlike any of my other orchids. I have a 'normal' orchid that I bought at the beginning of November and it has only lost one flower - it still has 10 on it. Maybe the shock was too much for it - it was jolly cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Hi Luvachicken! Spooky I can only keep orchids too and also have a growing collection which re-flower!!! I buy the orchid food tubes which I find really prolong the flowering phase. The local garden centre sells them and they're about £1 each. I was given 2 new plants after a spell in hospital in the summer (last year) and both flowered for about 5-6 months The reason they do so well here is ....neglect I think they like my sporadic approach to their care I have one plant that is 5 years old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I have a Dendrobium Orchid that ED & OH bought for me for Mothering Sunday about 10 years ago, I have never repotted it it rarely gets watered and it has flowered most years. I have been giving it slightly more water over this winter and it covered n flower buds at the moment. It has lovely pale yellow flowers that stay for ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 Thanks chickencam, I can't wait for it to have some more flower buds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
